2026 Guitar Festival & Summer School

GUITAR FESTIVAL & SUMMER SCHOOL 2026

CHELTENHAM

Welcome guitar friends!

Welcome to the IGF Summer School and Festival 2026 which this year is held in the beautiful Spa town of Cheltenham.  Again we have a stunning line up of great courses and concerts for you: no less than 6 contemporary popular styles taught by the best teachers in the country, an exciting Flamenco course and a classical programme featuring some of the world's most famous players. 

This year we're in the wonderful setting of Dean Close School which has amazing facilities and is ideally located 5 minutes from the train station and less than 10 minutes from the gorgeous city centre.

See you in Cheltenham in August!

Tom Kerstens
Artistic Director

Classical Guitar Course - 4 days

Tues 11 - Fri 14 Aug (depart Sat)

Concerts | Masterclasses | Solo & Ensemble tuition | Guitar Orchestra | Lectures

Xuefei Yang

Xuefei Yang is acclaimed as one of the world’s finest classical guitarists. Her fascinating journey began after the Cultural Revolution, a period where Western musical instruments and music were banned in China. 

Fei was the first-ever guitarist in China to enter a music school and became the first recognised Chinese guitarist on the world stage.

Francisco Bernier

With more than 500 concerts in 40 countries across Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia, Francisco Bernier is considered by critics as one of the great guitarists of his generation.  

A finalist at the Concert Artist Guild Competition (New York), Francisco holds 20 international prizes and, at just 20 years old, became the first Spaniard to win First Prize at the prestigious Michele Pittaluga International Guitar Competition in Alessandria (Italy).

Eva Victoria Schockmel | Giorgio Serci | Tom Kerstens | Francisco Correa

This year we welcome top international guitarists Xuefei Yang and Francisco Bernier.

Whether you are a budding guitarist, an advanced player, or simply a music enthusiast, our programme is designed to inspire and elevate your skills while connecting you with a community of like-minded musicians.

Led by an exceptional faculty of internationally-renowned guitarists and teachers, this summer school offers a comprehensive programme of concerts, classes, and interactive sessions, catering to all levels of ability.

Don't miss out on this unforgettable week of music learning and camaraderie!

Francisco Correa
Course Lead

Flamenco Guitar Course - 4 days

Weds 12 - Sat 15 Aug  (depart Sun)

Concerts | Solo & Ensemble tuition | Lectures

Samuel Moore

Hailed as “a fantastic flamenco guitarist” (BBC Radio 3) and winner of the Vienna International Music Competition (2025) and the Manhattan International Music Competition (2023), Samuel Moore is fast establishing himself as one of the leading musicians of his generation. 

This course is suitable for intermediate level guitarists (2+ years of playing), and prior experience of flamenco guitar playing is NOT essential.

During the course you'll explore four of the most important Fandango flamenco palos: Fandango de Huelva, Verdiales, Malagueña, Granaína.  By the end of the course, not only will you have mastered each palo, but also you’ll have developed your flamenco technique, knowledge of rhythm (compás) and ultimately taken your understanding of flamenco to the next level!

Samuel Moore
Course Lead

Contemporary Guitar Courses - 5 days

Tues 11 - Sat 15 Aug (depart Sun)

Vintage Electric Blues | Groove | Acoustic | Jazz | Rock & Blues Foundations | Blues & Country | Guitar for Singer/Songwriters

We are delighted to welcome back our brilliant contemporary styles tutors, each has a wealth of performing and recording experience that will benefit all students that attend.  There are seven different guitar courses on offer in a variety of styles and ability levels.  Join us for an immersive week of guitar and take your playing to the next level!

Jason Sidwell
Course Lead

Rock & Blues Foundations | Level 1 (beginner) | Jon Bishop
From Eric Clapton to Oasis: focusing on the fundamentals from major and minor chords, the pentatonic scale, string bending, and blues riffs

Guitar for singer/songwriters (new course!) | Level 1 - 2 (beginner - intermediate) | Holly Carter
From Doc Watson to Nick Lowe : focusing on different guitar techniques and theory to better accompany yourself as a singer-songwriter

Acoustic | Level 1 - 2 (beginner - intermediate) | Chris Quinn
Chords, fingerpicking and plectrum magic across the decades from Martin Carthy to Paul Simon and James Taylor to Ed Sheeran

Vintage Electric Blues  |  Level 2 (intermediate)  |  Chris Corcoran
Delve into the world of early electric guitar pioneers such as BB King, T-Bone Walker, Freddie King, Tiny Grimes and Charlie Christian

Groove | Level 2 (intermediate) | Jason Sidwell
Get your funk on with techniques and songs by artists like Nile Rodgers, EWF's Al McKay, Michael Jackson's David Williams and session ace Paul Jackson Jr

Jazz | Level 3 (intermediate - advanced) | John Wheatcroft
Analysis of legends Django Reindhardt, George Benson, Joe Pass, Pat Metheny and John Scofield plus the theory and techniques for improvisation

Blues & Country  | Level 3 (intermediate - advanced) | Andy Saphir
Double the fun: blues icons like SRV, Robben Ford and Joe Bonamassa plus country greats like Chet Atkins and Danny Gatton

Fees

This year we look forward to welcoming students to our new venue - Dean Close School with its fantastic facilities.  We are able to offer a number of options:

• all inclusive - tuition fees + accommodation in your choice of single/two bed rooms + all meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea/coffee breaks + free parking + access to sporting facilities

• non-resident + day rate - tuition fees + all meals/refreshments + free parking + access to sporting facilities

• non-resident - tuition fees only, no meals/refreshments or parking included

(please note there are no cafe/restaurant facilities on site to purchase food so we recommend the day rate package to non-residents)

We can also accommodate companions and family members.  Contact us for more information, email: info@igf.org.uk

Young students (up to and including 18yrs old) get a 35% discount on tuition.

Accommodation options

Included:  3 meals per day - cooked breakfast, lunch, dinner | morning & afternoon coffee/tea  |  free parking  |  access to sporting facilities (tennis courts, gym, swimming pool - with a small additional charge)

Multiple room options are available with either shared bathrooms or an ensuite bathroom shared between two rooms (known as Jack & Jill).  Some two bed rooms are available.  

Accessibility

Two accommodation blocks are available.  Students with impaired mobility are advised to select a room in the nearest block to the teaching rooms - Brook Court.

Brook Court (2 min walk, flat terrain) - single bed ensuites, one & two bed rooms with shared bathroom

Shelburne (5 mins walk, flat terrain) - one & two bed ensuite rooms only

"Jack & Jill" rooms  -  1 and 2 bed rooms with shared ensuite                  

Single rooms - 1 and 2 bed rooms with shared bathroom

Dorm rooms - shared dorm rooms with bunk beds and shared bathroom are also available, please get in touch if this option is of interest (email: info@igf.org.uk)

Any Questions?

Get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!   Email info@igf.org.uk